Game



July 30, 1 E. E. HORNUNG GAME Filed May 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

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July 30, 19.40. E. E. HORNUNG 2.209,?29

Filed May 15, 1939 2 S eeee s-Sheet 2 V W Wm WM g MWHIQ & Z. zifiarw/zag IN V EN TOR.

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Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES-1 PATENT OFFICE GAME Emil Edward 'Hornung, Jacksonville, Fla. Application May 15,1939, Serial No. 273,773

' 3 Claims. (01. 273-53) This invention aims to provide a simple but efiective means whereby either a rolling ball and pin game founded upon the baseball concept, or upon the well known ten pin bowling concept, can be played in small size on a table, on the floor of a room, in a larger size, or in the open, either with or without a specially provided alley. Another object of the invention is to sup.- ply a novel back stop. A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of the alley. Another object of the invention is to supply novel means forspotting or placing the pins, in the event that a specially prepared alley is not used.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it

being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in top plan, a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 4 is an elevation showing one of the pins;

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing one of the balls;

Fig. 6 is a plan showing one of the pin spotters or placers;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of the alley member depicted in Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 8 is an elevation showing another of the pms;

Fig. 9 is a plan showing another form of putter or pin placer.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an alley I, which may be an elongated board, mounted removably at its ends and in its intermediate portion, upon transverse supports 2. The alley I is held on the supports 2 by latch means, such as hooks 3, pivotally mounted on the ends of the supports 2, the hooks being adapted to be engaged, detachably, with keeper eyes 4 on the edges of the alley I, the keeper eyes being disposed midway between the upper and lower surfaces of the alley, so that, if desired, the alley can be turned over from the position of Fig. 1 to-the position of Fig. '7.

On its upper surface, and at its inner end, the alley I is supplied with pinspots 5, there being, preferably, ten of these spots, arranged in a triangle, to facilitate the playing of a ten pin game. founded on the baseball concept, then recourse is had to pin spots 6 on the lower surface of the alley I, the spots 6 being arranged in the form of a diamond, as shown in Fig. 7. The alley or board I is reversible to facilitate the playing of a game of either of the sorts mentioned, and the alley can be turned over, to expose the spots 6 or the spots 5 at the will of an operator, the keeper eyes 4 being so mounted on the alley I that such an inversion of the alley is made possible.

The pins 1 and 8 used in the playing of the game, and placed on the spots 6 or the spots 5, may be of any desired construction, and are characteristic of the game to be undertaken. The pins 7 and 8 preferably are provided with cavities 26 in their lower ends. Any suitable means (not shown) may be employed for keeping a score. Since many games can be performed with the device forming the subject matter of this application, no rules of play are given, and I am aware of the fact that a patent cannot be granted on a device of this kind, based on the manner in which it is used. Moreover, the device is so constructed that operators can make up their own games with any rules that may be fixed upon.

The device includes a back stop 9, which is of approximate U-shape in top plan, the inner end of the alley I projecting slightly within the back stop. The back stop includes oppositely disposed side walls In and II, and a back I2. The walls III, II and I2 are padded on their inner surfaces, shown at I4, to receive the impact of balls 2| which are rolled along the alley I. The ends of the walls I0, I I and I2, are beveled as shown at I8, so that, when the bevel edges are fitted together, the walls I0 and II will have a slight diverging relation, forwardly, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is desirable that the back stop 9 be so constructed that it can be taken down readily and packed in a small and. compact bundle. With this end in view, the walls I2 and I I are connected by hinges l5. Latch hooks iii are pivoted to the If, however, it is desired to play a game back wall l2, and are adapted to be engaged detachably and releasably with keepers l1 on the wall l0. Braces 19 extend across the angles formed by the walls Ill-l2 andl2-Il. Securing elements 20, such as screws, connect the ends of the braces 19 with the walls lfll2 and lZ-H. It will be clear that by removing the securing elements 20 and freeing the braces l9 or, at least, by freeing the braces at one end, the wall l2 may be folded with respect to the Wall H, and the wall may be superposed upon the folded members H and I2, thereby to make up a compact package and to facilitate storage.-

It is not necessary that the alley I be employed. If there is a satisfactory smooth surface either indoors or outdoors, the alley I may be dispensed with. Under such circumstances, depending upon the nature of the game to be played, the spotter plates 2| and 24 of Figs. 6 and 9 are used to dispose the pins properly with respect to the back stop 9, as is done by the spots or 6 of the alley I, when the alley is used, the holes 23 of the plate 2|, and the holes 25 of the plate 24 being arranged as are the corresponding spots 5 and 6. The holes of the spotter plates are large enough so that the plates can be lifted free of the pins, after the pins have been located.

The device is simple and inexpensive in construction, but it provides a means whereby many games of the pin and ball type may be played, either indoors or out.

What is claimed is:

1. In a game of the bowling type, a back stop substantially U-shaped in top plan and including rear and side walls, braces each detachably secured at its front end to the upper edge of one of the side walls, both braces being detachably secured at their rear ends to the upper edge of the rear wall, the braces extending across the angles defined by the rear and, side walls, to limit the upward movement of balls which strike any of the walls, and separate means for connecting the rear ends of the side walls to the ends of the rear wall.

2. A game of the bowling type, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the ends of the side and rear walls are beveled at such an angle that, when fitted together, the side walls will be disposed in forwardly-diverging relation, one of said separate means being a permanently assembled hinge, and the other of said separate means being a releasable hook and eye connection.

3. A game of the bowling type, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the ends of the side and rear Walls are beveled at such an angle that, when fitted together, the side walls will be disposed in forwardly-diverging relation, one of said separate means being a permanently assembled hinge, and the other of said separate means being a releasable connection.

EMIL EDWARD HORNUNG. 

